Parts washer with fast-opening flexible door

ABSTRACT

A parts washing system includes a plurality of walls defining a chamber. A washing apparatus is disposed within the chamber for washing a part. At least one of the walls defines an opening. The system also includes a door movable from an open position for allowing access to the chamber to a closed position for preventing access to the chamber. The door comprises a flexible material. An electric motor is operatively connected to the door for actuating movement of the door from the closed position to the open position at a velocity faster than 20 inches per second.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates generally to systems for washing industrialparts.

BACKGROUND

Industrial parts washers for washing and/or drying various parts,components, and/or other items (hereafter “parts”) typically includenumerous chambers defined by separating walls. One or more doors areutilized to move these parts between the chambers. For example, a partmay move from a first chamber for washing the part, through a door, to asecond chamber for drying the part.

Typically, the walls and doors are formed of metal, e.g., stainlesssteel or aluminum. As such, the doors are heavy and may be opened orclosed using hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators. Accordingly, thesedoors are often slow to open and close, which slows down throughput ofthe washing unit. Furthermore, the doors are susceptible to denting andother damage due to malfunctions in robots or other conveyors thatshuttle the parts between the various chambers.

As such, it is desirable to present a parts washer with doors that arefaster to open and close. Further, it is desirable to present a partswasher with doors that resist damage. In addition, other desirablefeatures and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequentsummary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a parts washing system includes a plurality of wallsdefining a chamber. A washing apparatus is disposed within the chamberfor washing a part. At least one of the walls defines an opening. Thesystem also includes a door movable from an open position for allowingaccess to the chamber to a closed position for preventing access to thechamber. The door comprises a flexible material.

In another embodiment, a parts washing system includes a plurality ofwalls defining a chamber. A washing apparatus is disposed within thechamber for washing a part. At least one of the walls defines anopening. The system also includes a door movable from an open positionfor allowing access to the chamber to a closed position for preventingaccess to the chamber. The system further includes an electric motoroperatively connected to the door for actuating movement of the doorfrom the closed position to the open position at a velocity faster than20 inches per second.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be readilyappreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a part washing system according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the part washing systemaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the part washingsystem according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the part washingsystem according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the part washing systemaccording to one embodiment showing a door in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the portion of the part washing systemshown in FIG. 5 showing the door in an open position; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the part washingsystem showing a spindle disposed through a hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views, a part washing system 100 is shown anddescribed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, the parts washing system 100 includes a pluralityof walls 102 defining at least one chamber 104, 106. In the illustratedembodiment, the walls 102 define a first chamber 104 and a secondchamber 106. It should be appreciated that the walls 102 may define anynumber of chambers 104, 106. It should also be appreciated that the term“walls” 102, as used herein, refers to any structural divider,including, but not limited to, walls, ceilings, and floors.

A washing apparatus 108 is disposed within the at least one chamber 104,106 for washing a part 110. In the embodiments shown in the figures, thewashing apparatus 108 is disposed within the second chamber 106. Thewashing apparatus 108 includes various nozzles, hoses, pumps, and othercomponents (not shown), as needed to wash the part 110, as appreciatedby those skilled in the art.

At least one of the walls 102 defines an opening 112. The opening 112allows ingress and/or egress from at least one of the chambers 104, 106.Of course, the part washing system 100 may include a plurality ofopenings 112. Furthermore, one of the walls 112 may include multipleopenings 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 112 measuresabout 42 inches (1.07 m) wide and 48 inches (1.22 m) high. However, inother embodiments, the opening 112 may vary in size based on numerousfactors, including, but not limited to, the size of the part 110 that isto be washed.

A conveyance mechanism 114 may be utilized for conveying parts 110 into,out of, and/or through the parts washing system 100. The conveyancemechanism 114 may include, but is certainly not limited to, a gantry, aconveyor, and a robot. Of course, multiple conveyance mechanisms 114 maybe utilized as is well appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The system 100 further includes a door assembly 115. The door assemblyincludes a door 116 disposed adjacent the opening 112. The door 116 ismovable from an open position for allowing access to the chamber, asshown in FIG. 5, to a closed position for preventing access to thechamber, as shown in FIG. 6.

The door 116 comprises a flexible material (not separately numbered).The flexible material forms the primary barrier that is disposed inand/or adjacent the opening 112. Ideally, the flexible material iscapable of flexing, bending, and/or stretching without easily breaking,being permanently dented, or having holes easily formed therethrough. Inone embodiment, the flexible material comprises polyvinyl chloride(“PVC”). However, other suitable materials may be utilized. The flexiblematerial of the door 116 may be opaque, transparent, or a combinationthereof.

By utilizing the flexible material, damage to the door 116 due toimproper conveyance of the part and/or malfunction of the conveyancemechanism 112 is reduced. This is because the flexible material is lesslikely to be dented, torn, broken, or otherwise punctured thantraditional metal doors.

In the illustrated embodiment, the door 116 has a width of at least 42inches (1.07 m) and a height of at least 48 inches (1.22 m) tocompletely cover the opening 112 when in the closed position. The doorassembly 115 may also include a pair of tracks 118. The door 116 slidesin, and is retained by, the tracks 118 when moving between the openposition and the closed position.

The door assembly 115 may also include a spindle 400, as best shown inFIGS. 4-7. The spindle 400 is operatively connected to a top end (notnumbered) of the door 116. The spindle 400 is rotatable about an axis402 for moving the door 116 between the closed position and the openposition. Specifically, a portion the door 116 wraps around the spindle400 when going from the closed position to the open position and unwrapsfrom the spindle 400 when going from the open position to the closedposition. The door assembly 115 may also include an enclosure 200, asshown in FIGS. 2-6, at least partially enclosing the spindle 400 andenclosing at least part of the door 116 when in the open position.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the system 100 may include an electric motor126 operatively connected, i.e., coupled, to the door 116 for actuatingmovement of the door between the closed position and the open position,and vice-versa. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-6, the electricmotor 126 is operatively connected to the spindle 400. As such, theelectric motor 126 is configured to rotate the spindle 400, which, inturn, actuates movement of the door 116 between the closed position andthe open position and vice-versa.

In some embodiments of the system 100, at least one of the walls 102defines a hole 700, as shown in FIG. 7, and the spindle 400 is disposedthrough the hole 700. As such, the electric motor 126 may be positionedoutside of the chamber 104, as best shown in FIGS. 4-6. Thisconfiguration prevents water, solvents, etc. from coming into directand/or repeated contact with the electric motor 126. A seal and/orbearing (not shown) may be disposed within the hole 700 to further sealthe wall 102 and/or support rotational movement of the spindle 400.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the system 100 may also include a motorcontroller 130 electrically connected to the electric motor 126 forcontrolling operation of the electric motor 126. The motor controller130 may include a processor (not shown), e.g., a microprocessor, and/orother electronics. In one embodiment, the processor is capable andconfigured to perform various mathematical operations and execute aserious of instructions based on various inputs to produce variousoutputs. In other embodiments, the motor controller 130 may beconfigured to operate without a microprocessor, e.g., with variouselectronic components and/or relays.

The system 100 may also include a system controller 132. The systemcontroller 132 may include a processor (not shown), e.g., amicroprocessor, and/or other electronics. In one embodiment, theprocessor is capable and configured to perform various mathematicaloperations and execute a serious of instructions based on various inputsto produce various outputs. In other embodiments, the motor controller130 may be configured to operate without a microprocessor, e.g., withvarious electronic components and/or relays.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system controller 132 is in communication withthe washing apparatus 108 to control the washing apparatus 108. Thesystem controller 132 may also be in communication with the conveyancemechanism 114 and configured to control operation of the conveyancemechanism 114. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the system controller132 is also in communication with the motor controllers 130. As such,the system controller 132 may exhibit control over the electric motors126, as described below.

In the illustrated embodiment, the controllers 130, 132 may be incommunication with each other to coordinate actions. For example, thesystem controller 132 may signal that the washing apparatus 106 is readyto accept a part 110. In response, the electric motor 126, controlled bythe motor controller 130, may be operated to move the door into the openposition. A signal may then be issued by one of the controllers 130, 132to indicate that the door 116 is in the open position. In response, theconveyance mechanism 114 may the move a part into the chamber 106. Oncethe part 110 is in the chamber 106, a signal indicating as such may beissued. In response to this signal, the motor controller 130 may operatethe electric motor to move the door 11 to the closed position. Thesystem 100 may include other controllers (not shown) and/or processors(not shown) configured to operate the electric motor 126 and/or otheraspects of the washing apparatus 108 and/or the conveyance mechanism114. Alternatively, a single controller may be utilized to controloperations of the electric motor 126, the washing apparatus 108, and/orthe conveyance mechanism 114.

In one embodiment of the system 100, the door 116 opens at a velocityfaster than 20 inches per second (0.508 m/s). That is, the door 116moves from the closed position to the open position at a rate of 20inches per second (0.508 m/s). In the illustrated embodiment, where thedoor 116 has a height of at least 48 inches, the door may move from theclosed position to the open position in less than 2.4 seconds.

In the illustrated embodiment of the system 100, the door 116 opens at avelocity faster than 40 inches per second (1.016 m/s). That is, the door116 moves from the closed position to the open position at a rate of 40inches per second (1.016 m/s). As such, the door 116, which has a heightof about 48 inches, moves from the closed position to the open positionin less than 1.2 seconds. The door 116 of the illustrated embodimentalso closes at a velocity faster than 40 inches per second (1.016 m/s).As such, the door 116 also moves from the open position to the closedposition in less than 1.2 seconds.

Operating the door 116 quickly, i.e., faster than 20 inches per second,has several advantages of prior art systems. First, the systems 100 ofthe illustrated embodiments is able to wash parts faster than prior artsystems, as the wait time for the door 116 to open and/or close isreduced. Thus, overall throughput of parts 110 through the system 100 isincreased. Second, since the door 116 operates quickly, there is areduced chance for collision with the part 110 and/or the conveyancemechanism 112, as the likelihood of the door remaining in the closedposition is reduced.

The present invention has been described herein in an illustrativemanner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has beenused is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather thanof limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of theinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. The inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A parts washing system comprising: a plurality of walls defining achamber; a washing apparatus disposed within said chamber for washing apart; at least one of said walls defining an opening; and a door movablefrom an open position for allowing access to said chamber to a closedposition for preventing access to said chamber; said door comprising aflexible material.
 2. The system as set forth in claim 1 furthercomprising a spindle operatively connected to a top end of said door androtatable about an axis for moving said door between the closed positionand the open position.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2 furthercomprising an electric motor operatively connected to said spindle forrotating said spindle for actuating movement of said door between theclosed position and the open position.
 4. The system as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said electric motor is disposed outside of said chamber.5. The system as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said wallsdefines a hole and wherein said spindle is disposed through said hole.6. The system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a controllerelectrically connected to said electric motor for controlling operationof said electric motor.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid door opens at a velocity faster than 20 inches per second.
 8. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1 wherein said door opens at a velocityfaster than 40 inches per second.
 9. A parts washing system comprising:a plurality of walls defining a chamber; a washing apparatus disposedwithin said chamber for washing a part; at least one of said wallsdefining an opening; a door movable from an open position for allowingaccess to said chamber to a closed position for preventing access tosaid chamber; wherein said door comprises a flexible material; and anelectric motor operatively connected to said door for actuating movementof said door from the closed position to the open position at a velocityfaster than 20 inches per second.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9wherein said electric motor moves said door from the closed position tothe open position at a velocity faster than 40 inches per second. 11.The system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a spindleoperatively connected to a top end of said door and rotatable about anaxis for moving said door between the closed position and the openposition.
 12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said electricmotor is disposed outside of said chamber.
 13. The system as set forthin claim 12 wherein at least one of said walls defines a hole andwherein said spindle is disposed through said hole.
 14. The system asset forth in claim 9 further comprising a controller electricallyconnected to said electric motor for controlling operation of saidelectric motor.
 15. (canceled)
 16. A parts washing system comprising: aplurality of walls defining a chamber; a washing apparatus disposedwithin said chamber for washing a part; at least one of said wallsdefining an opening; and a door movable from an open position forallowing access to said chamber to a closed position for preventingaccess to said chamber; said door comprising a flexible material; aspindle operatively connected to a top end of said door and rotatableabout an axis for moving said door between the closed position and theopen position. wherein at least one of said walls defines a hole andwherein said spindle is disposed through said hole; and an electricmotor disposed outside of said chamber and operatively connected to saidspindle and configured to actuate movement of said spindle such thatsaid door moves from the closed position to the open position at avelocity faster than 40 inches per second.